Static eliminator



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,592

A. L. BETTS STATIC ELIHINATQR Filed March 19, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORIVEY Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,592 A. L.'BETTS STATIIC ELIMINATOR Filed March 19, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 192% P E N ABTHURQLQ ETTsjoF CINCINN TI, orrro,nests-ima e ,eUeusrInnnAvIs, m, on

oovmetron,

KENTUCKY,

f sra r onmivrmaron.

Appliceti on filcd March 19,1923. semi nbl 626,014.

with theforin ofstatic eliminator disclosed in the applicationof Ch'arles'Ql Anthony, Se.- rial No. 590,279,filed September 25, I922.

- In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof: I

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a manhole cover and a filling closure, with the invention applied thereto Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of Fig} 1, showing a portion also of the tank shell;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation, showing the grounding key partly inserted and about to release the lock; and

Fig. i is a longitudinal section through the improved key-hole closure, taken in the plane of the grounding key, which is seen inserted and bearing against the lock element.

The gasoline tank isrepresented in the drawings by a portion of the shell 1, a manhole rir-g and a manhole cover 3, in which the filling closure -'lis preferably place-d,

' though thismayvbe otherwise. Thei orm of Cit filling closure illustrated is a screw plug adapted to beserewed into and out of a screwthreaded opening in the manhole cover. As int-he Anthony application, the filling plug is. shown normally locked or obstructed against unscrewing by a two-armed lock-lever 5 tulcrumed on a bracketG on the under side of the manhole coyer and urged. by a spring 7 so that its inner, upturned arm stands in the path of a lug 8 projecting dow" ward from the-filling plug. A hole 9 is formed through'the manhole cover for the insertion of arod or groundingkey 10 constituting the terminal of a grounding cable,

the key having a suitable insulated handle 11. The key-hole is over the tail or outer arm of the lever 5, so that by pushing the key in the lock is released, the general purpose bein to com el roundiiw of the tank betore the filling opening is opened.

The present invention aims to carry the protection further by keeping the smallerniust be brought into groundfig key-hole also closeduntil grounding has been eilected. In the ire" simple construction adopted for tlris purpose'the key-" v tact kept closed atiall times, and th ante one though not absolutelynecc asoth'er arangements may be devis l.

cording to the improvei n'ei "e, there i s a key-hm closure, and'the g be I tion' permitting V p I y' nto the tank.

1n the particularpreterred construction a ig'er housing 12' isisecured by screws 13 the tank in order that this elos'u'relinay or hroughtq nto po, *tionol the or our, erwi se to the top of the manhole cover, over the key hole, the'housing having an 6X- tension 9 of the key-hole in its inner Wall, in the-housing is longitudinally movable plunger 1%, pressed at one end by a spring 15, which is retained by a dislranda cotterpin 16. The plunger has an opening 17 corresponding to the keyd'ioleand adapted to register "t-l'i'erewith, but norn ially kept out of register by the spring, which causes the solid part or" theplunger to blank the key-hole.

In the outer wall of the housing there is a T slot comprising longitudinal and transverse portions 18, 19, the longitudinal portion permitting the plunger to be movedendwise by pushing the key into the opening 17 and their pressing the key sideways against the resistance of the spring 15. In this Way the tank is initially grounded, and when the opening 17 is brought into register with the key-hole, the key can be pushed all the way in to release the lock. t i

The transverse portion 19 of the T slot euables'the key to be engaged with the plunger openingirrespective of turning movement oi the plunger in the housing. This permits the use of a, simplecylindrical plunger without means to keep itrfrom turning. The plunger is ot'such length as to prevent binding and to keep the slot closed against entrance of dirt to the interior of the housing when pressed all the way back to the open position.

It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise embodiment ofthe in 'vention, as the form of the device and of the 1 look with which it cooperates may be varied;

What I claim asnew is:

1. In means for electrically grounding a tank by the application thereto of a grounding key forming the terminalof a grounding loo lit

conductor, a tank having a fillingaperture and closure, and a lock for said closure, there being a hole into the interior of they tank for the insertion of said electrical grounding key torelease the lock, a closure for said hole and means whereby the key is brought into grounding relationto the tank in order that the said hole closure may be moved into position permitting the insertion of the key. 7

2. In a static eliminator, a tank having a closure, and a lock for said closure, there being a hole into the interior of the tank for the insertion of anelectrical grounding key to releasethe lock, a slidable spring-pressed closure for said hole having-an opening normally out of register with the hole and enabling the said closure to be moved against the spring by means of the key, thereby at once grounding the tank.

3. In a static eliminator, a tank having a closure, and a lock for said closure, there being a hole into the interior of the tank for the insertion of an electrical grounding key to release the lock, :1 plunger housing Outside said key-hole, and a spring-pressed plunger in the housing movable across the hole and having an opening to receive the key and be moved into register With the hole.

4. In a static eliminator, a tank having a closure, and a lock for said closure, there beinga hole into the interior of the tank for the insertion of an electrical grounding key to release the look, a plunger housing outside said hole, and a spring-pressed plunger in the housing movable across thehole, and having an opening to receive the key and be moved into register with the hole, the plunger being free to turn in the housing, and the latter having a T slot, substantially as set forth.

an v

5. In anwapparatus ior grounding a tank bymeans of an electrical grounding key, the combination with a tank having a hole for such grounding key, and a lock for a filling closure adapted to be released by the insertion of the grounding key, of a spring-closed closure for said hole forming a grounding element constructed to be moved by the key to position permitting the insertion of the key through the hole.

ARTHUR L. BETTS. 

